Principal in China Fired Over Chocolate Gift Sues Kindergarten, Wins Case

In Chongqing, China, Wang, the principal of Sanxia Kindergarten, faced dismissal after accepting a small box of chocolates from a student. Valued at approximately $0.85 (SGD 1.10), this seemingly minor gift led to her termination despite its insignificant value. The incident, which occurred in September 2023, was tied to the tradition of students giving small gifts to teachers to celebrate Teacher’s Day, which falls on September 10.

Gift Controversy and Legal Battle

Reports indicate that surveillance footage showed a student giving Wang a plastic bag of chocolates as she sat with another teacher in the classroom.

Wang accepted the gift, hugged the student, and later shared the chocolates with the other children. The kindergarten claimed that this gesture breached a Ministry of Education rule against teachers accepting gifts or money from students or their parents.

Court Decision and Compensation

Wang challenged her dismissal in court, and the Jiulongpo District People’s Court ruled in her favor in March. The court determined that the chocolates were a gesture of appreciation and did not breach any regulations. Consequently, the kindergarten was ordered to compensate Wang for her wrongful termination.

Appeal and Social Media Reaction

The case drew further attention when the Chongqing No 5 Intermediate People’s Court upheld the initial verdict after the kindergarten appealed. The story went viral on social media, gathering 7.2 million views on Douyin, China’s version of TikTok.

Reactions were mixed, with some stunned by the harshness of the punishment, while others voiced concerns about the way the situation was handled.